Parent Guide to West Athletics - April 2015 Update...

Transforming Aspiring Adults Through Athletics 2

Welcome to West!

Waukesha West Parents/Guardians:

Thank you for taking part in another exciting year of Wolverine Athletics! At Waukesha West High School, we are proud to offer 28 WIAA and club sport programs. Our fundamental belief is that every student deserves and benefits from a well-‐rounded educational experience, including academic rigor, extra-‐curricular involvement, and the development of relationships with peers and adults that will positively impact future success.

We encourage our student-‐athletes, families, and fans to join the Waukesha West tradition of competitive spirit and exceptional sportsmanship. The intensity and passion that our community offers on a consistent basis truly helps to propel our programs toward success on the field, court, mat, ice, or in the pool. Thank you in advance for representing West High School with class, integrity, and pride.

My hope is that this Parent Guide will serve as a helpful resource and framework for you and your family during your time with West Athletics. It is critical that we have a common understanding of expectations so that our students experience consistent messages between home and school.

If there is any way that I can personally assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me with the information noted below. I wish each and every one of you a fantastic school year.

Go Wolverines!

Kyle LeMieux Waukesha West Athletic Director 262-‐970-‐3911 [email protected]


Our Mission The mission of the Athletic Department at Waukesha West High School is to:

Transform Aspiring Adults Through Athletics. The word “transformation” is defined as a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. Within the context of our value system at West High School, evidence of transformation would occur as students make the positive choice because they choose to, not simply because they are told to. More than basic obedience, a shift of the heart and mind occurs such that others-‐centered thinking, integrity, and togetherness become pillars in their lives personally and collectively. As students progress through their high school experience, they grow through academic knowledge, social interactions, and extra-‐curricular involvement. All of which will leave their mark and influence the type of adults our students become. While we understand that high school students are not adults just yet, we do strive to provide adult-‐like opportunities and responsibilities for our students in a manner that will equip them with the tools and skills necessary for post-‐high school success. Ultimately, we have the privilege of creating this environment of high expectations through our mutual passions for athletics. Although life lessons can be taught through a variety of circumstances, we believe students engage at a unique level through their athletic programs, and we therefore have a captive audience ready for learning along the way. We continue to monitor indicators of our success as leaders and coaches with student-‐athletes on a daily basis, but the true measure of our success as an Athletic Department and school will be demonstrated by the positive family members, spouses, friends, employees, and citizens that our students become. Thank you for your support as we aim to achieve this mission with every West student-‐athlete.


Staying Connected As a West Athletics parent/guardian, please be sure to check out our athletics website at:

www.waukeshawestathletics.com

To access information regarding specific programs, please visit the “West Teams” tab at the top of the screen. Within each team site you will find coaches contact information, a program calendar, and other documents necessary for that particular program. Parents are also encouraged to review other home page items to stay informed. Registration materials, concussion literature, athletic training services, and many more helpful resources will hopefully answer any question you may have.


Beyond checking team pages from the West Athletics website, parents/families are also able to access all competition schedules for our programs through RSchool. This calendar system can be accessed at:

www.classic8conference.org

Families are encouraged to subscribe to program schedules for the sports you are involved in so that any updates regarding event status including date, location, and time will be messaged directly to you. To see live action updates for our programs during the season, please follow West Athletics on Twitter @WolverinesPride.


Conflict Resolution At a school as large as Waukesha West, conflicts are sure to arise between students, coaches, parents, and leadership. Although uncomfortable at the moment, resolving conflicts in a peaceful and positive manner can lead to instrumental growth and communication by all parties involved. High school athletics are an emotional experience that involves the entire family. The successes and failures of every season influence us all. Add to this equation the variety of backgrounds and experiences that our families enter West with, and it becomes clear that not everyone will see situations through the same lens. When a conflict comes up between a student/parent and a coach, the following protocol must be followed:

1. Athlete discusses the issue with parents/guardians to prepare thoughts and ideas – then athlete arranges individual meeting with his/her coach. Within these meetings, all topics regarding the individual athlete are fair to discuss.

2. If the meeting between athlete and coach does not yield positive results, either party may request a meeting involving the parents/guardians. Any meeting held with a parent/guardian will also always include the athlete. When parents find themselves upset, we ask that everyone take 24 hours to let emotions calm, then contact the coach to arrange an in-‐person appointment. Long emails, voicemails, or post-‐game confrontations will not be acceptable.

Note: Meetings or communication between coach and parent will only involve concerns over a student’s well being. Examples include frustration with teammates, concerns about another coach, family matters impacting a student’s team status, etc. Playing time or philosophical decisions for the program are not up for discussion. If athletes have any issues with playing time or coaching decisions, please refer to step #1.

3. If a family and coach are at an impasse, a meeting will be scheduled to involve the

student, family, coach, and the Athletic Director. The guidelines from step #2 will continue to apply.

The above process is a uniform expectation for all families and all programs. If you choose to contact the Athletic Director, Principal, or Superintendent prior to discussions between the athlete and coach, your situation will be redirected to step #1 or #2 as appropriate. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate excellent communication between our coaches and athletes so that expectations and standards are transparent. You may not agree with the answers you receive, but no one should be left wondering. This communication process is a two-‐way street – another aspect of our overall mission in Transforming Aspiring Adults Through Athletics!


Parent Expectations

Being a parent is exciting, difficult, rewarding, complex…the list goes on and on. Parenting a high school student-‐athlete only multiplies the emotions, triumphs, and challenges that every family experiences along the way. Below you will find a set of parent expectations adapted from the book InsideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives by Joe Ehrmann. Our hope is to create a culture and community of parents that strive to live within these expectations while encouraging other adults to join them as well.

! Understand and endorse the purpose of our programs: to help students become men and women of empathy and integrity who will lead, be responsible, and change the world for good.

! Support the coaches by applauding behavior in your child and his/her teammates that demonstrates characteristics of integrity, empathy, sacrifice, and responsibility.

! Acknowledge and appreciate players’ growth toward maturity and their effort toward establishing

stronger relationships with teammates, coaches, and themselves.

! Affirm your son/daughter and his/her teammates when good character, healthy sportsmanship, and other-centered behavior are displayed. Do not affirm only his/her athletic performance or a victory.

! Serve as role models for our players, talking politely and acting courteously toward coaches,

officials, other parents, visiting team parents, and spectators at practices, games, and meetings.

! Model good sportsmanship. Acknowledge and applaud the efforts of team members and opponents. Accept defeat graciously by congratulating the members of the opposing team on a game well played. Support the team regardless of how much or how little your son/daughter plays or what the win-loss record is.

! Encourage your child and his teammates with positive statements, even when they make mistakes.

At every practice they are growing physically and emotionally. At every practice they are learning moral and ethical lessons. At every practice they are developing character.

! Refrain from boasting about your child’s accomplishments.

! When problems or questions arise, please have your son/daughter present the problem to his/her

coach. We want players to develop self-advocacy. After meeting with his/her coach, if the issue requires more clarity, request an in-person meeting with the coach.

! Because I am a parent/guardian with the power and platform to make a positive difference in the

life of every player, I commit to this set of expectations. When failing to live up to these standards, I will allow for accountability and take responsibility for my actions.


Codes of Conduct

All parents, fans, and attendees of Waukesha West events should be familiar with the Spectator Code of Conduct. This agreement outlines the common expectations for all in attendance in order to ensure a positive student-‐focused experience. Spectator Code of Conduct http://goo.gl/MYZ5Dk All students in the School District of Waukesha are held accountable to Policy 5131G: Co-Curricular Rights and Responsibilities. This policy is commonly referred to as the “Athletic Code”. When any student-athlete violated the terms of this policy, disciplinary action is considered. Please review and become familiar with this policy as a family such that you can help to shape positive choices that adhere to this code of conduct. A consistent set of expectations between home and school will provide stability for our students during a time in life influenced by many outside sources. Co-Curricular Code of Conduct http://goo.gl/g9Q3cw

Waukesha West Booster Club

Waukesha West High School is fortunate to have dedicated parents and community members who devote time, energy, and resources through the athletic Booster Club. To date, the Booster Club has raised and donated over $500,000 to West Athletics! If you are interested in learning more, becoming a member, or attending fundraising events, please visit the link below or access directly on the West Athletics website. Waukesha West Booster Club http://www.waukeshawestathletics.com/page/show/860918-‐booster-‐club


NCAA Information

Many families enter high school with a curiosity about collegiate athletics. We highly recommend that you begin your learning process sooner rather than later, especially regarding academic requirements. The NCAA publishes information annually to help families through this journey, which we post under the NCAA tab of our athletics website. A direct link is below. NCAA Information http://www.waukeshawestathletics.com/page/show/874601-‐ncaa-‐information

Other Resources

Please take a moment to review this powerful article discussing the role of the parent in their child’s athletic experience. The Role of Parents In Athletics by Bruce Brown http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0057/2258/Role_of_Parent_by_B._Brown.pdf

Athletic Department Contact Information Kyle LeMieux Assistant Principal/Athletic Director 262-‐970-‐3911 [email protected] Teri Abraham Athletics & Activities Secretary 262-‐970-‐3919 [email protected]

Parent Guide to West Athletics - April 2015 Update...

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